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Philosophy

By Paul Laurence Dunbar

Topics: classic

I been t'inkin' 'bout de preachah; whut he said de othah night,     'Bout hit bein' people's dooty, fu' to keep dey faces bright;     How one ought to live so pleasant dat ouah tempah never riles,     Meetin' evahbody roun' us wid ouah very nicest smiles.     Dat 's all right, I ain't a-sputin' not a t'ing dat soun's lak fac',     But you don't ketch folks a-grinnin' wid a misery in de back;     An' you don't fin' dem a-smilin' w'en dey 's hongry ez kin be,     Leastways, dat 's how human natur' allus seems to 'pear to me.     We is mos' all putty likely fu' to have our little cares,     An' I think we 'se doin' fus' rate w'en we jes' go long and bears,     Widout breakin' up ouah faces in a sickly so't o' grin,     W'en we knows dat in ouah innards we is p'intly mad ez sin.     Oh dey 's times fu' bein' pleasant an' fu' goin' smilin' roun',     'Cause I don't believe in people allus totin' roun' a frown,     But it's easy 'nough to titter w'en de stew is smokin' hot,     But hit's mighty ha'd to giggle w'en dey's nuffin' in de pot.

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"I been t'inkin' 'bout de preachah; whut he said de othah night,..."

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Author:Paul Laurence Dunbar

"I been t'inkin' 'bout de preachah; whut he said de..." by Paul Laurence Dunbar

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Paul Laurence Dunbar

About Paul Laurence Dunbar

Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872–1906) was an American poet and novelist who was one of the first African-American writers to gain national prominence. His poems in dialect—including "When Malindy Sings"—and standard English explore Black life with humor, pathos, and dignity.

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